April 23, 2006

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - Western Carolina Scored three runs in the first inning and three in the final two innings of game one to beat The Citadel 8-5. In game two, the Bulldogs scored two with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to win game two 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Riley Park. The Catamounts are now 22-18, 9-9 in the Southern Conference, while The Citadel is now 20-20, 6-9 SoCon.

In game one, Western took early control, sending eight men to the plate and scoring three in the first. Barrett Shaft, who had three hits in game one, got things started with a single and moved to second when Steven Strausbaugh walked. Blake Murphy, who also had three hits in the opener, followed with an RBI single and an error on a Jonathan Greene ground ball loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Mitchell Hatley walked to plate Strausbaugh and keep the bases loaded. Donnie Wilson delivered an RBI infield single to cap the scoring.

The Bulldogs answered with a run in the home half of the first. Graham Couch reached on a one-out single, stole second, advanced to third on an error on the play and scored on Sonny Meade's infield single.

The Catamounts regained a three-run lead in the fourth. Jason Haynes had a two-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a balk. A walk to Tim Hallam put runners on the corners. In a designed play, Hallam was caught in a run down between first and second attempting to steal second. While that was going on, Haynes scored prior to Hallam getting out.

Citadel was able to once again answer with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 4-3. Mark Egleton and Matt Matulia had consecutive leadoff singles. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up. Egleton would score on a passed ball and Tripp Cappelman drove in Matulia with an RBI single to center.

In the fifth, Western pushed across a run for a 5-3 lead. Shaft had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Murphy followed with a walk and the two stole third and second. Greene plated Shaft with the first of his three hits in game one.

The Catamounts padded their advantage in the eighth, scoring two runs for a 7-3 lead. Strausbaugh and Greene each had singles and the bases became loaded with a walk to Trey McDaniel. Scott Ward delivered a two-out, two-run single to center and Wilson walked to re-load the bases. Bulldog relief pitcher Tim Martin got a ground out to limit the damage.

Those two runs proved key as the Bulldogs scored two in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff walk, Meade hit a two-run home run over the left field wall.

Western added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Shaft, who singled, scored on Murphy's triple down the left field line.

Tyler Sexton got back on the winning track after three tough losses, improving to 6-4 on the season. He scattered eight hits and three runs over 6.2 innings. He only walked one with seven strikeouts. Greg Holland pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn his fourth save.

The Citadel pitchers combined to walk 12 as Western left 15 runners on base. Ryan Owens suffered the loss, falling to 2-6. He allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned) with six walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

In game two, The Citadel drew first blood, taking advantage of a WCU error to score a run in the third. Sid Fallaw started the third by reaching on an error. He would later score on a double by Matt Covington.

Western took advantage of an error in the fourth to score two runs. Murphy singled and, on Greene's fielder's choice, reached third on an error. A wild pitch put runners on second and third and McDaniel brought the two home with a single to left center. In the home half of the fourth, Chris Swauger singled and moved third on Meade's ground rule double. Shaft made an excellent diving catch in deep center field to rob Zach Brown of extra bases, but it would still count as sacrifice fly, moving Meade to third. Brock Thornburg got a strike out and a ground out to keep the game tied at 2-2.

In the seventh, McDaniel had a leadoff triple, his first career three-bagger and third hit of game two, and scored on Ward's RBI ground out to take a 3-2 lead.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the ninth. Meade had a leadoff single. Pinch runner Graham Couch moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on ground out. The game nearly ended with a looping hit to center, which was nearly caught on a diving play Shaft, however, it was just beyond his reach and Matt Arnold plated Couch with double to center. Brady Mashak welcomed new Catamount pitcher Brian McCullen with the game-winning hit to center.

Brock Thornburg was one out away from getting Western's first complete game of the season. However, he only lasted 8.2 and suffered the loss, falling to 2-3. He only allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) with no walks and seven strikeouts.